Volunteers are needed to participate in research study investigating how the brain learns new speech sounds. Participants will listen to speech sounds or words and make decisions about them, and may also view pictures or text along with the speech sounds. Some of these tasks may be done online or using a mobile device that you take home. We may ask you to wear a wristwatch-style device that monitors your activity and sleep overnight.
We will measure your brain structure and/or function using MRI. MRI allows us to take detailed pictures of your brain, and does not involve radiation.
We will also use Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) on you after you learn speech sounds. TMS is given using a magnetic stimulator. A magnetic stimulator is a device that generates a magnetic field. The magnetic field is produced by passing an electrical current through a coil of wire held next to the scalp. The magnetic field generated by the coil passes through the skull into the brain. By rapidly turning the magnetic field on and off, a small amount of current is briefly produced in the brain.
The study will last between 30 and 120 minutes per session. Participants may be eligible to participate in multiple research sessions.
Requirements: If interested in participating, you must:
(1) Be between 18 and 45 years of age
(2) Be right handed
(3) Be a native speaker of North American English;
(4) Have no hearing deficit
(5) Have no history of neurological impairment
(6) Be safe for MRI scanning, including, but not limited to: no ferromagnetic material in your body and no pregnancy.
Be safe for TMS, including, but not limited to: no history of seizure disorder, syncope, or concussion, not taking any drugs which can increase the possibility of a seizure. These drugs include antiasthmatics, antibiotics, antidepressants, general anesthetics, hormones, immunosuppressants, local anesthetics, narcotics, psychostimulants, neuroleptics, and illegal drugs.
Participants will receive $10 per hour for participation in tasks done outside the scanner, and $30 per hour for time doing MRI and TMS. If interested, please contact UConnMyersLab@gmail.com. We can also offer you pictures of your brain.
This research is conducted under the direction of Dr. Emily Myers, Speech Language and Hearing Sciences/Psychology.
For more information, contact: Sahil Luthra at uconnmyerslab@gmail.com